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Help with interior leather peeling off the seat backs

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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:10 PM
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Help with interior leather peeling off the seat backs

I recently bought a 2015 s550 with 45k miles. I am doing a bunch of maintenance and cleanup on the car to get it as close to 100% as possible and noticed the leather has come unglued on the back of the passenger seat where the vents attach. Assuming it's from the warm climate the vehicle came from? Took the seat back off to repair and used some leather glue I found at a craft store and it's not holding at all. Assuming some type of glue was used from factory to hold it, just not sure which one. Anyone had this issue or know what glue to use? Don't want to risk damaging or staining the leather with the wrong product. There is some tension on the leather so it doesn't exactly lay flat to get a good bond.

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Last edited by Rmayrap; Feb 9, 2023 at 02:13 PM.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:17 PM
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I was an upholsterer in a former life. When glueing leathers/fabrics/foams etc you need to glue both sides and let them dry until tacky before pressing together. If it is not working go to Home Depot and grab Wellwood contact cement (or equivalent heavy duty contact cement) and apply to both sides with an acid brush- when almost no longer tacky press together firmly.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by emilner
I was an upholsterer in a former life. When glueing leathers/fabrics/foams etc you need to glue both sides and let them dry until tacky before pressing together. If it is not working go to Home Depot and grab Wellwood contact cement (or equivalent heavy duty contact cement) and apply to both sides with an acid brush- when almost no longer tacky press together firmly.
awesome, thanks for that. Since you have experience in this, I bought Aleenes leather and suede glue from a craft store. Do you think this is sufficient or do I need something stronger? Btw the backing is not foam, its some type of thin wood material, smooth finish, if that makes a difference.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Rmayrap
awesome, thanks for that. Since you have experience in this, I bought Aleenes leather and suede glue from a craft store. Do you think this is sufficient or do I need something stronger?
Sorry- I am not familiar with it. We used to get Wellwood in a 5 gallon pail and it never failed so I trust it.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:33 PM
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Oh and chances are that is vinyl, not leather. Use a heat gun or blow dryer on hot to get it soft when ready to stick it back together. Don't get it too hot or you will get shiny spots...
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by emilner
Oh and chances are that is vinyl, not leather. Use a heat gun or blow dryer on hot to get it soft when ready to stick it back together. Don't get it too hot or you will get shiny spots...
So to clarify...
Apply wellwood contact cement to both leather/vinyl and wood sides
Let dry until tacky
Heat material on hot to make soft
Press together and hold

​​​​​​​does this sound right?
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Rmayrap
So to clarify...
Apply wellwood contact cement to both leather/vinyl and wood sides
Let dry until tacky
Heat material on hot to make soft
Press together and hold

does this sound right?
Exactly. You can use mineral spirits to clean up if needed.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by emilner
When glueing leathers/fabrics/foams etc you need to glue both sides and let them dry until tacky before pressing together. If it is not working go to Home Depot and grab Wellwood contact cement .
I came her to say this.
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Old Feb 13, 2023 | 03:48 AM
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Came back to say the contact cement worked great and everything is back to looking good. Thanks for the help guys.
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